NecroSteve
Member
Monday, March 03, 2008
Biggin UP Belfast!!!!
Belfast Front Page Feb 29 2008
okay I'm writing this blog as a thank you to the punks of Norn Iron!! We have gotten so much feedback from these guys over the years it is incredible! The Belfast punk scene seems to embody the whole idea of D I Y Punk rock. A scene can only be as good as you make it...and in Belfast they seem to have it cornered!
I was at home practicing my Norn Iron speak "bout Ye -we're the Restarts so we are" When I realised that my passport had expired three weeks ago! F U C K!!!!! I was dreading having to cancel the gig, if they wouldnt let me on the plane! This was NOT an option! Technically Belfast is a domestic flight, so I would be alright with any picture ID! As it turned out both EasyJet and Stansted security failed to notice my passport was out of date on 3 separate occasions (really tightening up national security eh boys?)
The flight was quick and painless, well not so much painless as my ears always swell up like a pressure cookers when flying, so after a quick gin and tonic we were already descending before i could get a second drink in!
We were met at the airport by Josh from Straight Up Promotions http://www.myspace.com/josh_belfast_punx at the baggage carrousel, thus quelling my fears that we didnt have a final customs check (they definitely WERENT "On to Me!!")lol - We went straight to the pub where we were fed a lovely vegan thai curry, and began setting up the PA for soundcheck etc! Everyone we met involved in putting on the gig was really fucking welcoming!! Some cities give off a certain personality, Belfast's would be akin to a good friend, always makin you laff, totally reliable, and someone whose always got your back! The Front Page pub was a bit dive-y but had all the charm of a private house party, the bouncers on the door let the punks police themselves, and let kids of all ages come in! All Ages gigs is something that we are trying to press for, from now on. As pubs in the UK seem to all of a sudden be putting 18+ only on flyers -THIS SUCKS!! there shouldnt be an age limit on seeing live music!
Anyhow with soundcheck complete, the pub started to fill up pretty quickly, we then met Eric (Ark) and Katrin (friends from London and Bremen) plus Darragh's brother Sioda and friend Spratzer who drove up from Dublin! Was nice to meet a few people who had been messaging us from Belfast, including Alana, whose prior engagement with a bottle of Jagermeister left her totally trollied!!!.... you GO girl! I guess Wattie had his work cut out for him that night
lol! We were chuffed to see the amount of home made restarts logos and tshirts, it is encouraging to see a DIY approach in the punk scene. Seems nowadays kids are all too eager to just buy their way into punk, and as always, punk is more about an attitude and not about wearing the right clothes!!! innit! We do however thank you for supporting us through our merchandising as this seems to be the only way for an unsigned band to exist with todays costs of touring (petrol, flights and time off work etc)
All the bands who played were great, and when it came time for us to hit the stage, the people were well primed for a dance...or should i say the seething mob of twisted bodies seemed to throb like a viral organism!!! lol At one point some crowd surfer got his trainer caught up in a plug hanging down from one of the stage lights, while the rest of the crowd was folding over on top of itself - right as we were about to break into a fast bit!!! Alot of people were up dancing on the stage, which always makes us feel welcome, and luckily none of us got a mic stand in the face!! Always a bonus!! (remember we LIKE our teeth!!!) The vocal monitor and Robin's guitar pedals got unplugged a few times...but there in lies the characteristics of small DIY punk gigs. We much prefer that chaos over the sterile, controlled environment at larger commercial concerts.The gig was apparently sold out, so apologies to anyone that couldnt get in! We had a choice of playing a bigger venue, but were told that the other venue was very strict about NOT letting anyone under 18 in, so we chose to go with the Front page!
So to summarise we want to give a big THANK YOU to Josh for organising the gig, transport, after party etc... and to everyone who came out and made us feel so welcome! Cheers to Coli and Leslie for the sleeping digs and lift back to the airport! and a big thanks to all the people that came up and talked to us!
Belfast - you should be proud of the scene you have got, solely built on the DIY ethos! If your scene sucks, take example from this city, you dont have to live in a huge cosmopolitan city, you just need to organise your selves and make it better!!
UP THE BELFAST PUNKS!!!!
xThe Restarts
Biggin UP Belfast!!!!
Belfast Front Page Feb 29 2008
okay I'm writing this blog as a thank you to the punks of Norn Iron!! We have gotten so much feedback from these guys over the years it is incredible! The Belfast punk scene seems to embody the whole idea of D I Y Punk rock. A scene can only be as good as you make it...and in Belfast they seem to have it cornered!
I was at home practicing my Norn Iron speak "bout Ye -we're the Restarts so we are" When I realised that my passport had expired three weeks ago! F U C K!!!!! I was dreading having to cancel the gig, if they wouldnt let me on the plane! This was NOT an option! Technically Belfast is a domestic flight, so I would be alright with any picture ID! As it turned out both EasyJet and Stansted security failed to notice my passport was out of date on 3 separate occasions (really tightening up national security eh boys?)
The flight was quick and painless, well not so much painless as my ears always swell up like a pressure cookers when flying, so after a quick gin and tonic we were already descending before i could get a second drink in!
We were met at the airport by Josh from Straight Up Promotions http://www.myspace.com/josh_belfast_punx at the baggage carrousel, thus quelling my fears that we didnt have a final customs check (they definitely WERENT "On to Me!!")lol - We went straight to the pub where we were fed a lovely vegan thai curry, and began setting up the PA for soundcheck etc! Everyone we met involved in putting on the gig was really fucking welcoming!! Some cities give off a certain personality, Belfast's would be akin to a good friend, always makin you laff, totally reliable, and someone whose always got your back! The Front Page pub was a bit dive-y but had all the charm of a private house party, the bouncers on the door let the punks police themselves, and let kids of all ages come in! All Ages gigs is something that we are trying to press for, from now on. As pubs in the UK seem to all of a sudden be putting 18+ only on flyers -THIS SUCKS!! there shouldnt be an age limit on seeing live music!
Anyhow with soundcheck complete, the pub started to fill up pretty quickly, we then met Eric (Ark) and Katrin (friends from London and Bremen) plus Darragh's brother Sioda and friend Spratzer who drove up from Dublin! Was nice to meet a few people who had been messaging us from Belfast, including Alana, whose prior engagement with a bottle of Jagermeister left her totally trollied!!!.... you GO girl! I guess Wattie had his work cut out for him that night
lol! We were chuffed to see the amount of home made restarts logos and tshirts, it is encouraging to see a DIY approach in the punk scene. Seems nowadays kids are all too eager to just buy their way into punk, and as always, punk is more about an attitude and not about wearing the right clothes!!! innit! We do however thank you for supporting us through our merchandising as this seems to be the only way for an unsigned band to exist with todays costs of touring (petrol, flights and time off work etc)
All the bands who played were great, and when it came time for us to hit the stage, the people were well primed for a dance...or should i say the seething mob of twisted bodies seemed to throb like a viral organism!!! lol At one point some crowd surfer got his trainer caught up in a plug hanging down from one of the stage lights, while the rest of the crowd was folding over on top of itself - right as we were about to break into a fast bit!!! Alot of people were up dancing on the stage, which always makes us feel welcome, and luckily none of us got a mic stand in the face!! Always a bonus!! (remember we LIKE our teeth!!!) The vocal monitor and Robin's guitar pedals got unplugged a few times...but there in lies the characteristics of small DIY punk gigs. We much prefer that chaos over the sterile, controlled environment at larger commercial concerts.The gig was apparently sold out, so apologies to anyone that couldnt get in! We had a choice of playing a bigger venue, but were told that the other venue was very strict about NOT letting anyone under 18 in, so we chose to go with the Front page!
So to summarise we want to give a big THANK YOU to Josh for organising the gig, transport, after party etc... and to everyone who came out and made us feel so welcome! Cheers to Coli and Leslie for the sleeping digs and lift back to the airport! and a big thanks to all the people that came up and talked to us!
Belfast - you should be proud of the scene you have got, solely built on the DIY ethos! If your scene sucks, take example from this city, you dont have to live in a huge cosmopolitan city, you just need to organise your selves and make it better!!
UP THE BELFAST PUNKS!!!!
xThe Restarts
